The Peace Corps is a United States government run volunteer organization that was first introduced on March 1, 1961.

According to their website, the Peace Corps mission includes three main goals: “Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women…helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served… [and] helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.”

The Peace Corps was established through Executive Order 10924 which was pushed through by JFK on March 1, 1961 and approved by Congress on September 22, 1961. Peace Corps members are college-educated American citizens who work with governments, schools, charity organizations, etc. to enhance social and economic development in other countries. Since its induction, over 200,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in 139 different countries.